AI in Education Podcast
Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming are experienced education renegades who have worked in many various educational institutions and educational companies across the world. They talk about Artificial Intelligence in Education - what it is, how it works, and the different ways it is being used. It's not too serious, or too technical, and is intended to be a good conversation. Please note the views on the podcast are our own or those of our guests, and not of our respective employers (unless we say otherwise at the time!)
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AI Tutors, Bias & GPT-5: What Just Happened?
08/21/2025
AI Tutors, Bias & GPT-5: What Just Happened?
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Dan and Ray dive into the latest developments shaping the future of AI in learning environments - from vocational colleges to elite universities. All the links to items and research discussed are below! News Australia's Future Skills Organisation and Microsoft launched the FSO Skills Accelerator-AI partnership Microsoft Elevate Google commits US$1bn for AI training at US universities CAUDIT Top Ten 2025 South Korea pulls plug on AI textbooks Consumer news reporting on AI in Education ABC Channel 9 Productivity Commission report that highlights the use of AI in education, including to reduce teacher workload New DFE AI guidance for schools Ofsted's findings on AI in Education Research AI tutoring outperforms in-class active learning: an RCT introducing a novel research-based design in an authentic educational setting AI tools used by English councils downplay women’s health issues Original paper: News reporting:
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Gen Z to Gen AI: What Students Really Think – with Dr Anna Denejkina
08/14/2025
Gen Z to Gen AI: What Students Really Think – with Dr Anna Denejkina
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, hosts Dan and Ray welcome back one of their favourite researchers, , to unpack her latest study, "". This and research collaboration, on the use and attitudes to AI by students, explores how young Australians are adopting generative AI, and what they really think about it. From career pivots and skill confidence gaps to plagiarism misconceptions, Dr Denejkina shares powerful insights into the realities behind the headlines. Discover why 30% of Gen Z students are rethinking their career plans, how gender influences AI confidence, and why students are asking for clear, practical guidance on what is, and isn’t, acceptable AI use. The conversation also covers deepfakes, creative industry disruption, and how students themselves are calling for more inclusive and representative decision-making in AI development. If you've ever wondered "How do students use AI?", then this is the episode (and podcast series!) for you.
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AI Study Mode, Super Tools & Future Jobs
08/07/2025
AI Study Mode, Super Tools & Future Jobs
This episode covers a massive amount of AI-related news and research, especially developments over the past week, including ChatGPT's new "study mode," major platform announcements from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, generative video and music tools, and the implications of AI on jobs and education. The episode also highlights a new Stanford GenAI for Education hub and discusses current AI policy and access initiatives globally. News ChatGPT Study Mode: Simon Willison info on the system prompt for Study Mode: Dr Philippa Hardman's LinkedIn post on Study Mode: Google announced “Guided Learning” mode for Gemini Open models by OpenAI Google released Gemini Storybooks ElevenLabs dropped a new multi-lingual music generation model OpenAI giving ChatGPT Enterprise to every US Federal Government department for $1 a year Microsoft Copilot released for 13+ students 18 months. 12,000 questions. A whole lot of anxiety. What I learned from reading students’ ChatGPT logs The Presidential AI Challenge Research GenAI for Education Hub at Stanford University Working with AI: Measuring the Occupational Implications of Generative AI Prompting Science Report 3: I'll pay you or I'll kill you - but will you care?
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Not Cheating - Learning: Students on Using AI Ethically
07/31/2025
Not Cheating - Learning: Students on Using AI Ethically
In this eye-opening episode of the podcast, hosts Ray and Dan are joined by a remarkable group of students from . Part of the student-led series 12, this conversation dives into how teens are really using AI in their schoolwork. And it’s far more sophisticated than you might think. From using Gemini and ChatGPT to find historical sources and generate study guides, to marking their own assignments with AI before submission, these students aren’t cutting corners. They talk openly about how they’re finding smarter ways to learn. The discussion explores ethical concerns like plagiarism, cheating, and data privacy, as well as creative uses of AI in coding, English, and even video production.
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From Harvard bots to Aussie classrooms: the state of AI in education
07/24/2025
From Harvard bots to Aussie classrooms: the state of AI in education
From Harvard bots to Aussie classrooms: the state of AI in education In this solo news and research roundup, Ray covers some of the biggest recent stories in AI and education – from high-profile case studies to practical tools for teachers and real concerns from students. Links for what’s in this week's episode: New AI training modules for Australian teachers Education Services Australia has released a set of lesson-ready resources to help teachers guide students in safe, effective AI use – including interactive activities and a certificate aligned with AITSL standards. Harvard Business School’s chatbot tutor A deep dive into how Harvard embedded a custom AI tutor into its accounting course – used by 75% of students, with a surprising impact on learning and classroom discussion. Student appeals and the limits of AI detection tools The UK’s higher ed ombudsman has warned universities about relying too heavily on detection software, especially when it comes to vulnerable student groups. OIA article: Case summaries: TES Report: ASBA AI Preparedness Survey - June 2025 A recent survey of 50 independent schools shows most are still playing catch-up on AI governance, staff training, and clear policies. NSW Auditor report on universities for 2024 Canvas and ChatGPT join forces Instructure has announced native AI integration into Canvas LMS, including AI-powered assignments that track learning progress directly into the gradebook. Scientists reportedly hiding AI text prompts in academic papers to receive positive peer reviews Reports emerge of researchers embedding hidden prompts into papers to game AI peer review tools. What students really think New surveys from the UK and Australia show that students are keen to use AI, but feel underprepared and unsupported. They want more guidance – not just for study, but for their future careers. UK: Australia:
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AI, Assessments & A-Graders: A Student's POV
07/17/2025
AI, Assessments & A-Graders: A Student's POV
AI, Assessments & A-Graders: A Student's POV What happens when AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s VEO3 land in the hands of curious, creative high schoolers? In this episode, we talk with Caitlyn, a Year 11 student from Sydney, who gives us a front-row seat to how students are really using AI in school right now. From refining English essays with high-modality language to producing eye-catching videos that bring creative writing to life, Caitlyn shows how AI has become her on-demand study buddy, grammar coach, and even a research assistant. She unpacks how her school’s “traffic light system” guides ethical AI use and reveals what happens when students take ownership of the tools and the learning. Caitlyn’s perspective offers a grounded, inspiring look at the future of learning with AI. Links , that created the change momentum. - only currently available to paid or subscribers. The (which Caitlin calls the Traffic Light System, although the AIAS team have moved away from that model a bit) for appropriate AI use in assignments. Ray mentioned
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Union-Powered AI: PD Meets Big Tech
07/10/2025
Union-Powered AI: PD Meets Big Tech
Union-Powered AI: PD Meets Big Tech This solo news-and-research roundup unpacks a blockbuster fortnight for AI in education, highlighting a landmark partnership between U.S. teacher unions and tech companies that could rewrite professional development. Headlines AFT × UFT × Microsoft/OpenAI/Anthropic – launch the National Academy for AI Instruction (US $23 M) to train 400,000 educators as AI-savvy professionals Announcement: AI Instruction website: Google “Gemini for Education” – 30 generative tools for lesson design, rubrics & more (ISTE 2025 reveal). Blog post: 21 page announcement PDF: White House “EDAI” pledge – 67 “AI Education & Workforce Champions” commit resources for schools And a questioning post from Microsoft Elevate & AI Economy Institute – New Microsoft philanthropy arm plus research fellowships on AI, work & learning. Microsoft Announcement: Microsoft Elevate: AI for Good Lab: Research spotlights Teaching for Tomorrow (Walton Foundation × Gallup): 60% of U.S. teachers using AI save 5.9 hrs/week, yet only 19% of schools have policies. Simple Techniques to Bypass Gen-AI Detectors (Perkins et al., 2024): popular text detectors flag 50% of genuine student work as AI. Jisc briefing: even 1% false-positive rates could falsely accuse 4,800 papers/year at a 20 k-student university. Riding the Tiger of AI Feedback (Aus. multi-uni, 2025): 50% of students already use AI for feedback; teachers still ranked “more helpful.”
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AI by Students, for Students
07/03/2025
AI by Students, for Students
Episode Series 12 Episode 8 AI by Students, for Students In this special episode of the AI in Education Podcast, recorded live at the , Dan and Ray chat with two forward-thinking school leaders about how students are using AI in transformative ways. First up, , Head of ICT at , shares how his school built its own AI tool – "Annabelle" – to give students a tailored, ethical, and effective AI tutor. From exam revision to building study guides, students are using it creatively and proactively, showing just how valuable thoughtful AI implementation can be. Then, , Digital Learning Leader at , discusses empowering students through leadership and voice. From running AI professional learning for 500 teachers to organising student-led symposiums, Jake highlights how students are already shaping the future of AI in education. Links During the conversation we mentioned: Alpha School in Austin, Texas: Khan Academy's AI Tutor Khanmigo:
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Does AI make you dumb?
06/26/2025
Does AI make you dumb?
After starting with an existential crisis - "Are we basically doing the AI equivalent of a maths calculator podcast from the 1970s?" - in this news and research update, Dan and Ray unpack the latest developments in AI and education. Starting with China’s decision to shut down AI tools during national exams, they then revisit NSW’s EduChat chatbot, now in widespread use, with compelling data on time savings for teachers and learning benefits for students. The hosts dive into fresh research from the LEGO Foundation and Microsoft, both highlighting how young students engage with generative AI—and the equity and creativity issues that come with it. They also tackle the viral MIT study suggesting AI could cause "cognitive debt" and discuss why such claims should be taken with academic caution. Finally, Dan and Ray trace the recurring media fear that each new technology - from books to bicycles - has been accused of making us stupid. As always, they bring wit, warmth, and real insight into how AI is shaping education. Links and references for the studies, news and research discussed: News China shuts down AI tools during nationwide college exams [, ] Research [] [ - - ] And finally For your enjoyment, Donald Clark's "" aka What's making us dumb this time? And if you want more enjoyment like Donald's article, then you'll love or
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We finally meet Megan and James
06/20/2025
We finally meet Megan and James
We're halfway through Season 12 - the Student one - and in episode 6 you finally get to meet Megan (Year 7) and James (Year 11). Long-term listeners will have heard co-host Dan talking about how his own children use AI, and so now you can hear their perspectives. Dan asks both of them share how they and their friends use AI in school and outside. Enjoy the honest revelations!
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Gen Z's AI Reality
06/13/2025
Gen Z's AI Reality
In this news and research-packed episode, Ray and Dan dive deep into the AI highlights from EduTech 2025 in Sydney - reflecting on the vibe, standout presentations, and the surprisingly light AI presence on the expo floor. They unpack major news from the UK’s Department for Education, OpenAI’s model pricing shake-up, and raise serious red flags over Meta AI’s privacy approach. The duo also tackles the big questions educators face: is AI destroying the planet? Can we trust AI with student data? And what do students themselves think? Featuring insights from two key research pieces - Australia’s "From Gen Z to Gen AI" and Jisc’s UK-based "Student Perceptions of AI 2025" - this episode reveals how students are using AI, what they’re worried about, and why institutions need to catch up. Links: OpenAI releases o3-pro () and slashes the OpenAI , and details of Meta.ai privacy approach - so far, only covered by Energy/water usage of ChatGPT In he said "the average query uses about 0.34 watt-hours, about what an oven would use in a little over one second, or a high-efficiency lightbulb would use in a couple of minutes." (about ) 's excellent blog post we discussed: "" which also contains the great comparison charts for electricity and water use for common activities. Details on Karen's upcoming book, Research on students' AI attitudes and use
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Students as AI Innovators, with Brett Moller
06/05/2025
Students as AI Innovators, with Brett Moller
Students as AI Innovators In this inspiring episode of the podcast, hosts Ray and Dan speak with at on the Sunshine Coast. Brett shares how his school is flipping the AI narrative — from fear and compliance to student agency, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. He discusses how students are not only using AI tools but building their own large language models, crafting apps that respond to deeply personal challenges like Parkinson’s disease and anxiety, and collaborating with local industry on meaningful tech projects. From AI-powered research assistants to empathy-led app design, Brett’s stories highlight a future where students are not just consumers, but creators of AI solutions. This episode is packed with powerful insights on ethical AI use, teacher transformation, and the evolving role of libraries, educators, and students in the AI era. Learn more about the St Andrew's story: Links to things mentioned in this episode: - Dr Ken Kahn's book
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Agents, Optimism & Essays: The Real AI Student Life
05/29/2025
Agents, Optimism & Essays: The Real AI Student Life
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Dan and Ray dive deep into how students are really using - beyond the hype. They unpack recent findings from the , exploring how students interact with models like Claude for study, writing, and even problem-solving. They discuss the latest sentiment data from a KPMG/University of Melbourne Business School report, "", revealing surprising differences in global optimism and concern about AI. (See the chart below, which isn't in the report, but Ray's creation from Figure 15) Plus, they share updates from Google I/O and Microsoft Build, highlight emerging trends in multi-agent systems, and reflect on how AI tools like VO are reshaping content creation. From skeptical spouses to the evolving role of educators, this episode blends data, insight, and laughs.
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Students First: How AI Is Changing Study Habits
05/22/2025
Students First: How AI Is Changing Study Habits
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, hosts Ray and Dan kick off Series 12 with a powerful focus on students—how they learn, what they need, and how AI is shaping their academic journeys. Joining them is at , who shares revealing insights from , which polled over 11,000 students across 15 countries. Nina dives into how students are turning to generative AI tools like ChatGPT more than their professors, not out of laziness but to fill gaps in clarity, access, and support. The trio explores the need for AI that’s student-specific - not just curriculum-aligned - and the importance of pedagogical design in educational tech. They also tackle key issues of equity, mental health, and the real-world skills students want for future workplaces. Links:
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Tutor, Teacher, Cheater: What Students Really Think About AI
05/15/2025
Tutor, Teacher, Cheater: What Students Really Think About AI
New Series Alert - all about students In the kickoff episode of Series 12, Dan and Ray set the stage for a deep dive into AI from the student's perspective. Why are students confused about AI? How are they actually using it - and how should they be using it? The hosts explore the idea that AI can act as a tutor, a teacher, or a shortcut (a "cheater") and reflect on how this plays out in real classrooms and learning experiences. They also caught up on plenty of news this week - transdisciplinary learning models, new AI education policies from countries like China and the UAE, and how major tech players like Microsoft and Google are adapting their tools for younger learners. The episode also highlights a new meta-analysis on ChatGPT’s effect on student learning. The meta analysis paper is Finally, there's two things we ask you, the listener, for in this episode: If you haven't already, pop into your podcast app and give us a rating and review Help shape this season by connecting the podcast with students and researchers who can share insights into real-life student experiences with AI Have feedback or want to get involved? Email us at
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From Hollywood to Healthcare: AI That Cares
05/08/2025
From Hollywood to Healthcare: AI That Cares
In this special solo-hosted episode, is joined by Dr. Mike Seymour from the University of Sydney, recorded live at the . You can find Mike through and Mike shares captivating insights from his work in digital humans - lifelike AI avatars that can support learning, healthcare, and emotional wellbeing. From using VR to train veterinary students with virtual sheep, to exploring how emotionally intelligent digital tutors can transform how students ask questions, this episode dives deep into the practical, human-centered future of AI. Mike draws on his background in Hollywood visual effects and his current research to make a compelling case: AI isn't a single tool - it's a system, a landscape, a way to augment and extend human capability. The conversation ranges from the ethics of AI in healthcare to using AI for dubbing films, always returning to a central theme: how technology can support, not replace, people. And when you've listened to this podcast, jump across to Mike's two podcasts - the and - which both take you on a journey to Hollywood and visual effects There are so many resources that you can read to dive into this story further: Mike's - researching AI Digital Humans Look at the timestamps on the videos - amazing videos from 5 years ago that we can now do in consumer apps, like this and the - amazing that it's gone from bleeding edge to available in everyday consumer apps in half a decade! Whether you're an educator, technologist, or just curious about the future, this episode is packed with ideas that will stick with you.
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Uber Prompts and AI Myths
05/01/2025
Uber Prompts and AI Myths
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan return from a short break with a packed roundup of AI developments across education and beyond. They discuss the online launch of the AEIOU interdisciplinary research hub that Dan attended, explore the promise and pitfalls of prompt engineering—including the idea of the “Uber prompt”—and share first impressions of the OpenAI Academy. Ray unpacks misleading headlines about Bill Gates “replacing teachers” with AI and instead spotlights the real message about AI tutors. They also dive into the 2027 AI forecast report, the emerging impact of the EU AI Act, and Microsoft's latest Work Trend Index, which introduces the idea of "agent bosses" in the AI-driven workplace. And then round off with Ben Williamson’s list of AI fails in education and a startling story of an AI radio presenter nobody realised was fake. Here's all the links so you too can fall down the AI news rabbithole 😊 AI in Education at Oxford University interdisciplinary research hub OpenAI Academy Introduction to ChatGPT Edu: Your AI-Powered Academic Companion AI for Academic Success: Research, Writing, and Studying Made Easier Mastering Prompts: The Key to Getting What You Need from ChatGPT AI 2027 Forecast Report 2025 EDUCAUSE Students and Technology Report: Shaping the Future of Higher Education Through Technology, Flexibility, and Well-Being Melbourne & KPMG AI Sentiment Survey Microsoft Work Trend Index 2025 Ben Williamson’s AI Fails in Education on LinkedIn This links to all the individual stories, so head to Ben's story, give it a like, and then click through to the warnings from the stories! Australian Radio Network digitises diversity with an artificially generated Asian female presenter
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Designing the Future: Learning Designers Meet AI
04/10/2025
Designing the Future: Learning Designers Meet AI
Series 11, Episode 11 Designing the Future: Learning Designers Meet AI with Minh Huynh and Cory Dal Ponte In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, we bring you two powerful conversations that explore the evolving role of learning designers and their growing impact in the world of AI-enabled education. Together, these two interviews reveal the strategic and practical power of learning design in an AI-driven future. First, we speak with from , who shares her journey from being a student of AI to leading its integration within a large first-year biology course. She offers a compelling look into the behind-the-scenes work of learning designers—building trust with academics, identifying barriers to student learning, and co-creating feedback tools that make a measurable impact. In the second half, we’re joined by from the University of Melbourne. Cory is both a learning designer and a PhD researcher focused on AI literacy. He walks us through some of the GPT-powered tools he’s built - from bots that rewrite learning outcomes in Bloom’s Taxonomy to AI-driven simulated patients for healthcare education - and unpacks what it really means to be AI literate in education today. His custom GPTs are all available for you to use through ChatGPT – Converts unrefined learning goals into Bloom’s Taxonomy-aligned outcomes – Helps create simulated patient cases for healthcare education to use with : Supports creating key understandings from topic aims using the Understanding by Design framework. Corey also mentioned two good resources for thinking about AI competency: , Ng et al. (2021) And finally, you can find some other resources from
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From BYO AI to the Turing Test: What Just Happened in Education?
04/03/2025
From BYO AI to the Turing Test: What Just Happened in Education?
This week, Dan and Ray dive into a whirlwind of AI news shaking up the education world. From $40K private schools with AI tutors to universities reporting chatbot-driven grade boosts, they unpack what’s hype and what’s happening. Plus, they explore the ethics of AI image generation, energy use in data centers, and whether GPT-4.5 is now officially more human than human. News Alpha School - AI school in Texas News report: https://www.foxnews.com/media/texas-private-schools-use-ai-tutor-rockets-student-test-scores-top-2-country https://alpha.school/ Macquarie University students’ exam scores up by nearly 10 per cent thanks to new AI-powered chatbotMicrosoft case study: https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/2025/03/24/macquarie-university-students-exam-scores-up-by-nearly-10-per-cent-thanks-to-new-ai-powered-chatbot/ Building an AI-Enabled Workforce: Impacts for Finance, Technology and Business Education and Training https://www.futureskillsorganisation.com.au/building-an-ai-enabled-workforce-impacts-for-finance-technology-and-business-education-and-training The Future of Jobs Report 2025 from World Economic Forum https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/digest/ OpenAI Academy Anthropic launched Claude for Education Open AI image generation announcement Report: Australia’s renewables can power AI and slash energy costs UTS Transdisciplinary Innovation course Research The Cybernetic Teammate: A Field Experiment on Generative AI Reshaping Teamwork and Expertise Large Language Models Pass the Turing Test News report:
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How two people built an AI tool for 15,000 students
03/27/2025
How two people built an AI tool for 15,000 students
Yet again, Dan and Ray are the podcast hosts, but Ray’s AI digital twin introduces the episode! This week's guests are: – Prompt Engineer and AI Advocate at . – AI Technical Manager at . This episode is a two-level deep dive into the development and deployment of CEchat, an AI-powered chatbot designed to reduce teacher workload and enhance student learning across Catholic schools in Australia. Part 1 of the episode covers the vision, pedagogy, and implementation strategy with both Lee and Prem. Part 2 is a more technical discussion between Dan and Prem, covering codebase customisation, infrastructure, scale, security, and integration. CEchat is an extended school-level implementation of , the multi-award-winning open source chatbot from The University of Sydney. We interviewed Danny Liu about the project in this episode: They also discussed the Rome Call for AI Ethics, which you'll find here:
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News & Research: The Global Shift from Policy to Practice
03/20/2025
News & Research: The Global Shift from Policy to Practice
News Stories Covered in the Episode AI Typing Like a Human? – Graham Clay’s LinkedIn post on ChatGPT Operator mimicking human keystrokes The Vatican on AI Ethics – “Antiqua et Nova” report on AI, human intelligence, and ethics in education Australian Government’s AI Study – Treasury report on Microsoft 365 Copilot, estimating it pays for itself if it saves 13 minutes per week California State University & AI – Providing 500,000 stuents access to ChatGPT Edu Estonia’s AI Strategy – National AI policy giving all students access to AI tutors Australia’s New National AI Centre Director – ex-podcast co-host appointed to lead the centre. For those keeping count, that's the second of the podcast hosts that's now at NAIC, with current hosts Dan & Ray still waiting for the call 😂 Manus AI Release – A new AI system focused on reasoning and conversation Research Papers Discussed "From chalkboards to chatbots: Transforming learning in Nigeria, one prompt at a time" – World Bank blog on AI tutoring in Nigeria, claiming two years of learning gains in six weeks. We discussed Ethan Mollick's focusing on the multiple controlled experiments showing that students can be helped or harmed based on how they use AI “AI Meets the Classroom: When Does ChatGPT Harm Learning?” – Study on ChatGPT’s impact on learning; found that using AI without explanations led to weaker long-term retention. “Generative AI Can Help Learning” – AI tutors improve test results but can hinder deeper learning if students rely too much on direct answers “Effective and Scalable Math Support: Experimental Evidence on the Impact of an AI- Math Tutor in Ghana” – AI tutor via WhatsApp in Ghana increased learning by the equivalent of one extra school year at $5 per student “Generative AI in higher education: A global perspective of institutional adoption policies and guidelines” – Study on university AI policies worldwide; most encourage AI use but lack clarity on inclusivity and transparency
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78,000 Students, One Bold AI Ambition- Leigh Williams
03/13/2025
78,000 Students, One Bold AI Ambition- Leigh Williams
In this episode of AI in Education, Dan and Ray sit down with , CIO of , to dive into . With 78,000 students and 13,000 staff, Leigh and her team implemented Microsoft Copilot at scale—reducing teacher workloads by 9+ hours per week and even boosting teacher recruitment. But it’s not just about efficiency. Leigh shares how AI is reshaping learning, tackling the digital divide, and even reducing student stress. We also explore the ethics of AI in education, Brisbane Catholic Education’s commitment to , and why gender balance in AI leadership still has a long way to go. We also have a fascinating discussion about other ways that they are using technology to support learning, including , their online school. Training resources Leigh talks extensively about the effort they have put into training and support for their teachers and students, and we wanted to share some of the Microsoft resources we know are useful if you're rolling out Copilot to your school: Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Adopt:
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Education in an AI age - Graham Brown-Martin
03/07/2025
Education in an AI age - Graham Brown-Martin
and welcome , a seasoned expert in education technology, for a very(!) thought-provoking conversation about navigating education in the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence. In this episode: Discover Graham's journey through multiple technological revolutions—from early mainframes and pioneering laser-disc technology to modern-day AI. Hear stories from Graham's past, including his role in bringing together provocative figures like Katherine Birbalsingh and Malcolm McLaren to challenge the status quo in education. Reflect on the historical context of industrial revolutions and their ongoing influence on our current educational systems. Understand why Graham argues that education is still stuck in outdated 19th-century practices and how the pandemic reinforced rather than changed this dynamic. Explore why Graham believes relational skills, creativity, empathy, and human collaboration will define education and employment in the fifth industrial revolution. Graham's call to action? Shifting educational and economic models to prioritise human-centric skills and societal value. Find out more about Graham on his website: Follow Graham on LinkedIn:
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From Butterflies to Bias: Dr. Nici Sweaney on Building Responsible AI in Schools
02/27/2025
From Butterflies to Bias: Dr. Nici Sweaney on Building Responsible AI in Schools
In this episode Dan and Ray sit down with Dr. Nici (Nikki) Sweaney—founder of “AI Her Way,” gender equality advocate, and globally recognized AI consultant. After a fascinating career journey from butterfly ecology to statistics to AI, Nici now helps schools and organizations create ethical, responsible, and effective AI strategies. She shares her insights on responsible AI adoption, gender equity, bias, and how schools can proactively plan for an AI-driven future. Follow Nici on LinkedIn: Make an Inquiry about PD for your school: Book Nici as a speaker Nici's will be speaking at lots of events in March, if you'd like to hear more, and ask your own questions! March 5 - Australian Retirement Trust live podcast recording, Brisbane March 6 - Canon, online event for IWD March 6 - National Press Club, "Women in Media Canberra Networking Night: Democracy under threat? Unpacking mis/disinformation in Australia" Canberra March 7 - Powerful Steps, IWD Event, 'Empowering Women, Changing Lives', Sydney March 13 - Hoyts, IWD Event, Advancing Women in the AI Era, Sydney March 17 - Women in Data and Digital (Australian Public Service), Online event for IWD March 25 - ARIA's Innovator Conference, Sydney March 27 - Learning Environments Australia Conference, "Architecting Future Learning Environments with AI", Sydney Key Topics & Takeaways Nici’s Career Path: Ecology, Academia & AI How studying butterfly behavior and coding in R sparked her interest in data and algorithms. Transition from 17 years in academia to AI consulting, focusing on statistics, data analytics, and ethical tech. The ‘Aha’ Moment with ChatGPT Discovering ChatGPT in late 2022 and realizing its massive potential for education—and society at large. Balancing excitement and existential questions (“What is the point of humanity?”) when first encountering generative AI. Bias, Equity & Ethical AI How AI systems inherit the biases found in the internet’s data—and why that’s problematic for underrepresented groups. Why women’s perspectives (and other minority voices) are crucial in AI development and how current data sets often perpetuate stereotypes.\ Nici's passion for closing the AI gender gap and practical steps schools can take. Building AI Literacy & Culture in Schools The importance of having a written guideline (rather than a static policy) for AI use in schools. How to engage teachers and staff: start with small wins—solving real pain points such as lesson planning or admin tasks. Creating a “community of practice” so that staff share prompts, workflows, and best practices. Parent and Community Involvement Addressing misconceptions and fears by informing families about AI’s capabilities, risks, and benefits. Why schools must proactively explain why they’re teaching AI skills—and how they're doing so responsibly. Rethinking Assessment & Student Skills Moving beyond “fact recall” to deeper inquiry, collaboration, ethical reflection, and higher-order thinking. Teaching students how AI works (at a conceptual level) so they can use it responsibly and critically. Encouraging leadership traits like empathy, diversity of thought, and clear communication—assets for both human collaboration and AI prompting. Global Perspectives & Data Sovereignty The challenges of relying on global tech giants for AI tools and data security. Understanding AI as a “private commodity,” not a universal public resource—what that means for Australian schools and beyond. Practical Steps for School Leaders Survey staff to find out their AI familiarity, pain points, and training needs. Start with low-hanging fruit: use AI to streamline daily tasks, then build toward larger strategic workflows. Sustain momentum via ongoing PD, regular sharing sessions, and involving all stakeholders, including parents.
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Faculty Perspectives on AI with Digital Education Council's Danny Bielik
02/20/2025
Faculty Perspectives on AI with Digital Education Council's Danny Bielik
In this episode, Ray and Dan are joined by , to discuss the findings of a global AI faculty survey. With insights from 52 institutions across 28 countries, Danny shares how higher education faculty are adopting AI, the biggest concerns around academic integrity and assessment, and why AI literacy is still a challenge for many. Key topics include: 🔹 The real impact of AI on teaching and learning 🔹 How universities are using AI for teaching materials and admin 🔹 The debate on AI and job security for faculty 🔹 Why assessment and academic integrity need a rethink 🔹 How institutions can benchmark their AI strategies 📌 Links & Resources: 📄 Download the 🌍 Learn more about the 🔗 Follow
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AI Book review, or News and Research?
02/13/2025
AI Book review, or News and Research?
Book Club Podcast? Before we even got to the News and Research, this week we discussed the AI-related books we're currently reading: Dan's reading: , by Steven Johnson () , by Douglas Gray and Evan Shellshear () Ray's reading , by Kate Crawford () News Links Links to the reports and news we discuss in the episode: OpenAI's new Education newsletter Ethan Mollick's new "AI in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT for Teaching" course on Coursera World Economic Forum "Future of Jobs report" Student expelled and deported because they were accused of using ChatGPT by their professor. So they're suing their professor Digital Education Council Global AI Faculty Survey 2025 We'll discuss this report with one of the authors in next week's episode UK government policy paper on "Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education" Year13 Case Study on AI use AI Use by industry employees - US, 2024 In the discussion of energy use by AI, Ray mentioned some stats from this research report: "The Carbon Emissions of Writing and Illustrating Are Lower for AI than for Humans" Research Papers And finally, links to the research papers we discussed this week ChatGPT and Its Educational Impact: Insights from a Software Development Competition How to Align Large Language Models for Teaching English? Designing and Developing LLM based-Chatbot for Teaching English Conversation in EFL, Findings and Limitations AI Meets the Classroom: When Does ChatGPT Harm Learning? Are Large Language Models Good Essay Graders? An Education Researcher's Guide to ChatGPT A Step Towards Adaptive Online Learning: Exploring the Role of GPT as Virtual Teaching Assistants in Online Education The AI Assessment Scale (AIAS) in action: A pilot implementation of GenAI-supported assessment
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AI Excellence: A Conversation with Katie Ford
02/06/2025
AI Excellence: A Conversation with Katie Ford
This week we get to catch up with , who tells us about the projects that have been happening in AI in Education around Australia, and shares some of the lessons learnt from the projects as well as what she is learning through her own research focus. The examples Katie discusses are: Tasmania Department of Education: Collaborated with Microsoft to enhance their data estate and prepare for AI applications aimed at identifying vulnerable children during COVID, helping to reveal overlooked demographics and improve interventions. University of New South Wales (UNSW): Engaged in multiple initiatives including embedding AI intelligence into complex institutional systems and processes, and developing the Academic Success Monitor to predict and intervene early with students disengaging from education. This proactive outreach is personalised and has shown positive impacts on student success rates. South Australia Department of Education: Pioneered the use of generative AI in classrooms, equipping educators with AI tools to enhance teaching and learning, making it one of the first in the world to adopt such technology at this scale. New South Wales Department of Education: Implemented AI thoughtfully to support educators, focusing on significant time savings and improved experiences in the classroom, with a commitment to reducing teacher workloads by five hours weekly. Brisbane Catholic Education: Conducted a successful pilot with Microsoft Copilot, saving educators an average of 9.3 hours per week, which led to a wider rollout across the board to boost productivity and support staff well-being. University of Sydney: Developed Cogniti to enable academics to control generative AI usage within their courses, facilitating the creation and monitoring of AI agents to enhance educational delivery and student monitoring. Torrens University: Used Azure OpenAI to overhaul their Learning Management System, addressing user experience feedback, enhancing accessibility, and saving both cost and labour significantly. Of course, we get diverted off course along the way, with a mention of platypus spotting, and Ray's visceral hatred of automated supermarket tills gets ha mention
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Reflecting on 2024 and Predicting the Year Ahead
01/30/2025
Reflecting on 2024 and Predicting the Year Ahead
And we're back! After a relaxing summer holiday Down Under (the school year finishes late December and doesn't restart until after the end of January in Australia) we've made it back to the studio to talk again. In this first episode of the 2025 'AI in Education' podcast, hosts Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming reflect on the major events and developments in AI during 2024. They discuss the importance of continuously addressing the adoption gap, the evolution of AI tools, and the pace of change in AI technology, exemplified by recent announcements like Project Stargate and DeepSeq. The episode transitions to predictions for 2025, where they foresee the year being dominated by the rise of AI agents, increased research on AI's efficacy, and the exploration of AI's role in education. They also emphasised the need for ongoing experiments and adaptability in organisations to keep up with rapid advancements.
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AI Podcast Wrapped for 2024
12/20/2024
AI Podcast Wrapped for 2024
We look back on the highlights of 2024, and the mass of stories, challenges and inspirations we had throughout the year. And what a year - AI in education has been moving so fast we even invited two digital AI podcasters to take over half the episode. And, worryingly, they did an amazing job - listen for yourself... We're going to take a break over the Australian school holidays, but then we'll be back with at the end of January 2025. If you miss us, then please go and give us a rating or review in Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and that'll encourage us to return with even more energy for 2025! We mention far too many stories and episodes to list them all, but one thing we mentioned a few times are the top five episodes from 2024, which in chronological order are: Assessment and Swiss Cheese - Phill Dawson - Episode 9 of Series 9 From Burnout to Breakthrough: Amanda Bickerstaff on AI's Role in Education Jason Lodge - Guiding Through Assessments University of Sydney and the future of assessment Is AI the saviour of teaching? Leanne Cameron's perspective on AI across the teaching profession
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AI News (and no research!)
12/13/2024
AI News (and no research!)
A heap of news stories this week means we didn't cover any research at all! AI isn’t a tool, it’s an environment by Josh Thorpe Australian Senate report into Adoption of AI Ethan Mollick's course on Coursera: "AI in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT for Teaching" I'll also recommend his book - Co-Intelligence - as a great Christmas gift for yourself or a friend Open AI announced Open AI Pro @ $200/m We like Ethan Mollick's example that showed what it could do - solving this problem and creating a working app in 15 minutes - see here: Microsoft Copilot with vision for consumers Demo example: Sora released ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode finally gets visual context on the 6th day of OpenAI Apple released iOS 18.2 with integrated AI Google Gemini 2.0 with real time speech and vision We're on Bluesky "The Carbon Emissions of Writing and Illustrating Are Lower for AI than for Humans" Microsoft's Zero-Water Solution for Data Centre Cooling
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